Bell type gassing and vacuumizing apparatus for dehydrated products



H. R. HELM July 15, 1947.

BELL TYPE GASSING AND VACUUMIZING' APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATED PRODUCTSFiled June 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. R. HELM July 15, 1947.

BELL TYPE GASSING AKD, VACUUMIZING APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATED PRODUCTS 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 15,- 1944 YeTZev-ZZRHeZm.

BELL TYPE eAssme mn vAcuumIzme APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRKTED PRODUCTS I 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ELF-.10-

H. R.- HELM Filed June 15, 1944' July 15; 1947.

Patented July 1 1947 UNITED STATES i 2,423,915 PATE T- orries I2.423.915, v "1mm. 'rrra GASSING arm vacuumzmo arraaa'ms roa DEHYDBA'LED.rnonuc'rs Herbert noun noun, Chicago, IlL,-'asaignor s OontinentaiCanCompany,.l no., New York, N.Y.,acorporation of New Ion-h Application 15,1 94 '7 '11 uasar ation, during the ciosing operation. Variousstructures ,have heretofore been. proposed by which this procedure couldbe accomplished, in-

cluding the use of means for presenting a cover to the container afterthe expulsion of air had been accomplished or to provide a looselyfitted cover on the container. and then displace this during the stepsof vacuumizing and gas-filling.

This invention is concerned with an apparatus i for the purpose, bywhich the container-with a loose cover thereon is placed inposition andthereafter a bell is lowered over the-container to provide a chamberwithin which the container is subjected to the desired operation. v

A feature of the invention is the provision of means by which the covermay be displaced from the container and-held-ina spaced positionwithrespect thereto, these means being made effective by the operation oflowering the bell around the 1 and are made effective for displacingthefcover into the aforesaid spaced position; and are ef--v fectiveduring the subsequent removal of the bell for returning to their priorposition anddispos-v ing the cover in proper'place upon the container.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a cover-liftingstructure in which the parts are acted upon by gravity wherewith theweight of the bell is employed. in lifting the cover, and the weight ofcertain cover-lifting parts is employed during the removal of the bellfor restoring the parts to initial position along with the placing ofthe cover in position on the container. With these and other features asobjects 1 view, an illustrative form of practicing the inin, which:

Figure 1 is an upright section through the bell and associated parts.with a container in position on thebeli platform and with the bell shownin prior to the sealing of the bell chamber.

Figure- 2 is a corresponding section, with parts omitted, showing. thecover-lifting parts at an intermediate stage of energization, and readyto begin lifting of the cover.

Figure 3 is a section corresponding "to Fig. 2,"

and showing the bell in sealing position on'its platform, and with thecover lifted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing ttire-securing bolts 11which pass through the 50. the position attained during lowering andJust {herein claimed.

tra a In the preparation of packagesof materials the "substantially .online 4-4- der seal, it has been foundadvantageous to replace the air byan inert gas, and to employ evacu- 5fis anlexplodedview corresponding ra part of, '4, but with the elements prior tol lY-x v Figured isanenlarged upright sectional view 1 -substantially-on lineJ-J of Fig. 4,corresponding to. a part of,1 lg 3, with'ithe cover-lifting elemeritssupporting the cover; in raised position.

Figiiresljfl 'andii are perspective views illus- 5 tratingdetails of thecover-lifting structure.

Figure 10-isa perspective'view, in exploded formfishowing the generalrelationship of parts of;a stop member prior to assembly.

Figure 11 is adetailed view of-a modified con- 1 v v tainerengagingstructui'e,

In these drawings, a bell platform P has an upper surface for engagementbythe bell B for forming'a closedfchamber, a gasket G beingnormallyinterposed {for assuring the seal. The bell can be raised and lowered byappropriate means such as a'ca-ble 0 connected to its upper end.

Standards 8 serve as guides along which may slide the blocks K, so thatthe bell is compelled to rise and.fall essentially vertically in theillustrated form. v

' Gauge pins D areprovided on the platform for I determiningaproperrposition of a container IX, being positioned in accordance withthe shape and sizeofthis container whereby to assure that the upper endof the container is presented in an ',.essentially predeterminedposition within the 'bell- E t rnal operable valve V-l by which an inertgas such as carbon dioxide, -,nitrogen, etc., may be introduced from atank T. Similarly; the manually operable valve ii-'4 permitsevacuationby a suitable means suchlas a suction conduit M and 'a filterN. In the illustrated form.-thegassing and evacuation conduits areconnected to "a common conduit H which, opens through the platform P,and this platform may be provided with radial channels 45 vention isshown in the accompanying drawings,

. vide-a-collar l4 forming the mouth of the con- -tainer. The containercover Y is shown in Fig. 1 as resting looselyf-upon'j the collar II, andas having. the downwardly turned peripheral flange II which later willbe sealed to an outwardly ex- "tending -flange 'at theupper end of thecollar i.4 The particular shape and arrangement of the container. andcover constitutes no partof the, present invention, save and except asthe I The upper closing end or. the bell B receives I gassing andevacuating means are illustrated in Fig. 1' as comprising. a manually-'structures thereof cooperate with the structures 3 spacer blocks I6 andengage in a cover-lifting device. It will be understood that the size ofthe blocks I6 can be varied appropriately with respect to the height ofthe bell B and the height of the container X, in order to assure properoperation of the parts.

The cover lifting structure is formed essentially as a ring 20, withelements for lifting the cover and stop elements for determining theposition of the cover when lifted, In the illustrated form, the ring isformed of three segments (Fig. which are welded to the interposed blocks2!, these blocks having. threaded apertures 22 for the bolts H. Theblocks likewise have kerfs 23 at their inner ends, and are provided(Fig. 'l) with aligned apertures 24 for receiving pivot pins 25 (Fig. 6)for supporting the corresponding lifting dogs 26. Each block 2| also hasan aperture 21 through which passes a-pivot pin 26 (Fig. 6)

-for supporting the corresponding lifter shoe 26 (Fig. 9). Each liftingdog 26 (Fig. 8) has a rounded actuating surface 26a for engagementduring movement of the bell whereby to cause rocking of the dogsinwardly toward the container cover. In the illustrated form, each dog26 has a lifter shoe 30 with a curved nose 30a for easy sliding over thecontainer wall, and with ears 30b for engaging the pivot 26. The shoes30 may be dispensed with if the top wall it is smooth and has a lowfrictional constant, and

structure 20, and ultimately engage the lifting dogs 26. It will benoted that the ends of the shoes 30 are curved, so that they can slideeasily along the top wall l3 of the container.

Continued downward movement of the bell causes the shoes 30 to rock thelifting dogs 26 inwardly to the position of Fig. 2, in which these dogshave come into contact with cover Y below its edge 15. 1

The final seating movement of the bell B is accompanied by a furtherrocking of the lifting shoes 30 and therewith of the dogs 26, and duringthis rocking of the dogs- 26, these dogs individually act as leverswhich receive downward force components at their pivots 25, and arethereby raised at their inner edges or noses so that thenoses or freeedges of these dogs cause a lifting of the cover Y to the position shownin Fig. 3. The maximum lifting of the cover Y is determined by thepressing of this cover against the stop fingers 3|, as shown in Fig. 3;but it degree of rocking of the dogs, through the difin this case thedogs 26 both engage. the con- 3i which are screwed to the ring 26. Eachring section is illustrated as having a notch 32 beneath the position ofthe finger 3|, into which fits the upwardly projecting abutment 33 of aguide block 34- (Fig. 10) which likewise is secured to the ring 20 by ascrew 35 (Figs. 1 and 4). The blocks 34 may bechamfered for guidingengagement with the container cover. The blocks 34 and ring 20 have asmooth internal periphery which is slightly greater than the diameter ofthe covers Y, e. g. about inch on the diameter for a #10 end.

The inner wall of the bell B preferably has the inclined guide blocks 50for engaging the top fiange of the container and assuring the correctrelative position of parts when the bell B has been seated on theplatform.

When the bell. is suspended from its cable 0, the lifting dogs 26 hangloosely suspended (Fig. '1) and the center of gravity is so positionedwith respect to the pivot pin that the dogs are then free of the path ofrelative movement of the cover Y as the bell B is lowered. In addition,the. lifter shoes likewise have moved loosely by gravity about theirpivots 28 until they are also in the position of Fig. 1..

As the bell B is lowered, the lifter shoes 30 engage and are detained bythe top wall i3 of the container and are thereby withheld from fartherdownward movement beyond the top wall, by reason of the pressure oi thebell, these lifter shoes are caused to rock about their respective axes28 during the further downward movement of the bell B. so that the innerends move inwardly toward the aids of the support. ring ferent anglesdetermined by the tolerance of actual heights, will assure a lifting ofeach and the platform P. By operation of the valves VI,

V-2, the container can be evacuated for removal of air, and then aninert gas can be introduced for replacing the vacuum. Evacuation andgassing can be repeated if desired.

When the treatment has been concluded, the last operation of gassing hasrestored the bell chamber to essentially atmospheric pressure, so thatit can now be easily lifted by its cable C, and therewith the liftingshoes 30 and lifting dogs 26 tend to rock backwardly by gravity towardand into the positions shown in Fig. 1. During the course of thismovement, the lifting dogs 26 lower the cover Y into its prior positionupon the container X,so that when the bell B has been lifted above thetop of the container, the latter may be removed with the cover inposition thereon for preventing the further access of the air. Thecontainer X and its cover Y can then be operated upon by a suitabledevice for interengaging the flange IS with the flange on the collar M.

A new container is placed upon. the platform P, in the positiondetermined by the gauge pins D, the bell lowered, and the otheroperations repeated, as before. I I

When the top wall I3 of the container X has circular corrugations. (Fig.11), it is preferred to provide the lifter shoes 30 with downwardprojections 300:, which may be solder spots or brazed materials whichare rounded to travel over the corrugated surface.

By securing the ring 20 to the bell B at the peripheral portions whichsupport the liftingelements, with inclusion of the spacer blocks I8,

a very strong and rigid assembly is provided, and no fiexing of the ring20 occurs. During the lifting of the cover Y,'it is guided by the blocks34, so that the cover Y is held in position for accurate return toclosing position upon the container X.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the form ofconstruction shown, but that it tions free of the cover and secondpositions of may be modified in many ways within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be securedby Letters Patent is:

11. An apparatus of the class described having a platform and a bell forengaging the platform to provide a treating chamber for a conv tainerhaving a cover loose thereon, comprising vpivot supports carried insidethe bell, lifting means pivoted to the pivot supports andincludingactuating parts for engaging the container as the Bell is lowered andlifting partsmo'ved by the actuating parts for engaging and lifting acontainer cover from the container, and guide means for detaining thecover in position for being returned tothe container mouth when thebellislifted'again. a

2. An apparatus of the class described having -a platform and a bell forengaging. the platform to provide a treating chamber for a containerhaving a cover loose thereon, comprising lifting sition has beenrockedfor engaging and liftin the cover from the container, the positionof the pivot mountings and thedimensions of the dogs being constructedand arranged relativeto the height of the container whereby the dogsengage the container during the downward motion of thebell around thecontainer and are thereupon caused to move from the said first positioninto said second position. e

8. A cover lifting apparatus including a support for receiving acontainer having a mouth with a loose cover thereon, and a belleifective means inside of andsupported by the bell, said 7 lifting meansincluding lifting dogs pivoted for rocking toward and from thecover, andalso including lifter shoes pivoted'for rocking upon en-. .gagement withthe container and therewith efdogs and shoes are pivoted eccentricallyto their respective centers of gravity whereby they fall into initialposition by the action of gravity when the bell is lifted and therewitheffect return of the cover to the container mouth.

4. An apparatus of the class described hav-' ing a platform and a bellfor engaging the plat-v form to provide a treating chamber for acontainer having a cover loose thereon, comprising a ring rigidly fixedinside the bell, peripherally 1 tainer and providing a treating chamberenclosspaced lifter dogs pivoted to said. ring torock toward and fromthe cover between first posiengagement beneath the cover, and meansenergized by engagement during the downward movein one position forsealing the interior of the container from the atmosphere, said bell andsupport being guidedly movable upwardly and downwardly relative to oneanother, and in combinationtherewith a pivot connection carried by saidbell, and a cover lifter dog on said pivot connection and normallysuspended by its weight from said pivot in a position out of engagementwith the cover during a-maior portion of the said upward and downwardmovement, said dog having a nose and a rounded actuating surface forengagement during the relative downward movement thereof wherewith thenose of the dog is caused to rock inwardly and upwardly into engagementbeneath the cover and then to raise the cover from the container mouth.

9. An apparatus of the class described for a container having -a mouthwith a loose cover thereover, a container support and a bell forengagement with said support, means effective during relative movementof the support and bell for positioning the bell relative to the coningthe cover, and lifting means carried by the bell and including a movablepart located out of the path of relative movement of the container coverduring one portion of the said relative ment of the bell for' causingsaid lifter dogs to move from their first positions into saidlsecondpositions and also causingthe said iifterdogs to mouth isopen.

5. An apparatus of the class described having a platform and a bell forengaging the platform to provide a treating chamber, for a containerhav- V ing a cover loose thereon,'cornprising a ring rigidly fixedinside the bell, peripherally spaced lifter dogs pivoted to saidring torock toward and-from v the cover between first positions free of thecover and second positions of engagement beneath the movement so that itis moved past the cover, said lifting means being positioned foractuation by the effect of and during a later portion of said movementwhereby the said movable part "is shifted to a position to engage andlift the cover.

10. An apparatus having a support for receiving a container having amouth with a loose cover thereover, and cover lifting means including amovable member, means for moving and guiding the said member in asubstantially vertical direction relative to the container support,

' said cover lifting means also including a first part cover, andlifter'shoes pivoted to said ring for engagement with the container asthe bell is dogs from said first positions into said secondv positions.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4, in which the I ring also has fixedthereto stop fingers extending into the path of upwardmovementof-the'cover whereby to assure maintenance of the cover in condition foraccurate replacement uponthe container mouth whenthebell is raisedagain.

7. An apparatus having a platform and a bell i said support and thecontainer thereon so that for covering a container resting on saidplatmovably carried by the member and normally positioned so that itdoes not engage the cover during the downward movement and a second partwhich moves freely downward with said.

container having a. mouth with a loose cover thereover, a containersupport, a bell, means for guidedly raising and lowering the bellrelative to 7 in the lowered position the bell is eflective for shuttingoil the interior or the container from the atmosphere, a cover liftingdog having a nose and pivotally suspended from said bell and normallylocated out of the path of relative move- 5 ment of the container coverduring one portion of the saidlowering movement-of the bell, and

means efiective when the dog attains during its downward movement a;predetermined distance from the container support to move said dog 10inwardly until its nose is engaged beneath the cover and then to effectfurther movement of the dog so that its nose is raised andlifts thecover from the container.

HERBERT ROBERT HELM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

